Welcome to the official STEPPS blog, where STEPPS faculty, students, and graduates offer commentary about things related to science policy and to the Science, Technology, Environment, and Public Policy Specialization at M.S.U.

Our goal is to have each of the seven core STEPPS faculty members contribute something to this site at least once each week. We will also have invited contributors from among our students and our graduates providing content. We encourage all STEPPS community members to use the comment sections to offer their own input. Ideally, we see this as a place where we can share our thoughts and interests with one another and further build our community of scholars and students who are interested in local, national, and international science policy.

The freshest twelve posts are listed below, with the most recent ones first. Earlier posts can be found by clicking on the drop down menu in the “Archives,” which is located on the right side of this page. Also on the right, you will find a list of useful links to things like the STEPPS checklist and other online science policy resources.

There will be an informational meeting on the Yellowstone National Park Study Away course on Thursday evening, March 13th at 7 p.m. in Case Hall 335A. The course instructor, Dr. Daniel Kramer, will be there to describe the program, answer questions, and distribute applications and relevant paperwork. If you are interested but cannot attend the meeting, email Dr. Kramer (dbk@msu.edu). More details on the course are below.

National Parks Field Course: Yellowstone 2014

Study Away at Yellowstone National Park

Dr. Daniel Kramer

May 24 – 31, 2014

Yellowstone is the world’s first national park and presents an extraordinary opportunity to understand contemporary conservation problems and their legal, political, economic, social, and philosophical challenges. Yellowstone is home to grizzly bears, wolves, bison, elk, pronghorn, bighorn sheep and is the core of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, the largest stretch of mostly undeveloped pristine land in the continental United States.

This course will introduce students to a variety of conservation issues related to Yellowstone including wolf reintroduction, invasive species, energy production and residential development at the park’s periphery, the interactions of large predators (e.g. wolves, bears) with surrounding landowners and ranchers, and efforts to create an international system of wildlife corridors from Yellowstone to the Yukon.

In addition to plenty of opportunities for wildlife viewing, hikes, and touring, the course includes talks from National Park Service staff, wildlife researchers, surrounding landowners and ranchers, professors, and local environmentalists.

Cost: ~$1,500 plus tuition and fees

Includes travel (airfare to Bozeman, MT and transportation to Yellowstone)

Yellowstone is the world’s first national park and presents an extraordinary opportunity to understand contemporary conservation problems and their legal, political, economic, social, and philosophical challenges. Yellowstone is home to grizzly bears, wolves, bison, elk, pronghorn, bighorn sheep and is the core of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, the largest stretch of mostly undeveloped pristine land in the continental United States.

This course will introduce students to a variety of conservation issues related to Yellowstone including wolf reintroduction, invasive species, energy production and residential development at the park’s periphery, the interactions of large predators (e.g. wolves, bears) with surrounding landowners and ranchers, and efforts to create an international system of wildlife corridors from Yellowstone to the Yukon.

In addition to plenty of opportunities for wildlife viewing, hikes, and touring, the course includes talks from National Park Service staff, wildlife researchers, surrounding landowners and ranchers, professors, and local environmentalists.

Cost: ~$1,500 plus tuition and fees

Includes travel (airfare to Bozeman, MT and transportation to Yellowstone)

The Japan Center will be offering a Environmental Science in Japan (ESJ) summer program (see below and attached). Designed to explore Japan’s environmental issues while providing a practical understanding of Japanese language and culture, students in this program enroll in the following courses:

* Keystone course in environmental sciences (3 credits): This course acquaints students with the environmental issues of Shiga and Japan through lectures, field trips, and practical research activities.
* Introduction to Japanese language and culture (3 credits): Develop Japanese skills in the classroom to use throughout your time in Japan.
* Internship or research experience (4 credits): Placements are based on the student’s interests and may include research activities or internships with local environmental organizations, government agencies, etc.

This Monday night (2/3) at 7pm, the honors college will be holding another forum in its “Sharper Lens/Wider Focus” series, this one on “Questioning Technology.” I will be speaking, along with three other faculty working on issues surrounding technology. I’d love to see some STEPPs folks in the audience.

The Michigan Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (MIAAP) is a diverse group of over 1,600 pediatricians. We are general pediatricians, sub-specialists, and academicians. Our members are active in promoting the health and well being of the children of the state of Michigan.

The mission of the Michigan Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (MIAAP) is to identify, develop and manage opportunities to improve the health and welfare of children and the practice of pediatric medicine. We are affiliated with the American Academy of Pediatrics.

MIAAP also has a Pediatric Foundation to support programs that promote the mission and policy priorities of the AAP. In Michigan, one of the main the programs supported by the Foundation is the Assuring Better Child Development program to promote developmental screening of children and training of doctors.

Interns would be exposed to the state and federal legislative and budget process, a wide range of children’s health policy and budget issues and functions of a non-profit organization. Interns would have the opportunity to conduct policy and budget analysis, assist with training and educational events for pediatricians, assist with fundraisers and grant proposal development and marketing. Interns will gain skills in policy writing, strategic planning, advocacy, fundraising, communications and PR.

Students will be supervised by Colleen Livingston for day to day activities, but would interact with the Executive Director, Board of Directors, and members of the MIAAP.

Qualifications

Students must have proficient written and oral communication skills. Experience with Policy or budget research and analysis is a plus but not required. Students must be self-motivated and organized. Students should also understand this is a small non-profit organization so clerical tasks would be expected as it is for all program staff.